As 6G Approaches, European Commission Bets Millions on Continental Tech Leadership

BARCELONA, March 10, 2026 — A European public-private research initiative committed €116 million ($135 million) to 20 new telecom network and artificial intelligence projects last week at the Mobile World Congress here. The group was seeking to secure the continent's leadership in sixth-generation mobile communications before a global standardization deadline in 2028.

The Smart Networks and Services Joint Undertaking (SNS JU) has deployed more than €500 million across roughly 80 projects since its founding. The initiative pairs the European Commission, the EU's executive body, with the 6G Industry Association, a consortium of telecom operators, vendors, and research institutions. The new funding targets AI integration, network architecture, and large-scale industrial trials across manufacturing, logistics, energy, and healthcare

Two of the three dominant global mobile equipment vendors are European, said Colin Willcock , chair of the SNS JU governing board, and the partnership aims to use that position as leverage for broader industrial competitiveness.

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